United States Army 38th Infantry Division (Cyclone)

U. S. ARMY 38TH INFANTRY DIVISION (CYCLONE) -  "Cyclone" is the official nickname of this division.  Named after a tornado hit the camp where the division was training prior to deployment during World War I.  The division's shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) is a spade shaped shield, bordered in green, with the right half red, the left half blue.  Superimposed on the shield is a white monogram "CY" which alludes to the divisional nickname "the Cyclone Division."  The distinctive unit insignia (DUI) is in the shape of a clover leaf in memory of the original badge for non-color bearing divisional units.  The lightning flashes represent the unit's participation in three World War II campaigns, with the Luzon assault landing recognized by the arrowhead tip in the center flash. The cloud and lightning flashes are an allusion to the cyclone.  The colors blue, white and red refer to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the unit for their part in liberating the country.

The division was activated in August 1917 as a National Guard Division composed of units drawn from Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia.  The division deployed to Europe in overseas in October 1918, where it landed in France at the height of the German "Peace Offensives".  Because the division was not combat ready, it was largely stripped of officers and men, who served as replacements for units already in combat.  However, several of the regiments remained intact (for example the 138th and 139th Field Artillery) and were involved in collective training when the Armistice took effect on November 11, 1918.

WWII Activated:  January 17, 1941 (National Guard Division from Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia).
Overseas:  January 3, 1944.
Campaigns: New Guinea, Southern Philippines, Luzon.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 1.
Awards: MH -1 ; Distinguished Service Cross (United States)-6; Distinguished Service Medal (United States)-1 ; Silver Star-225; Legion of Merit-9; Silver Star-25 ; Bronze Star-1,283 ; Air Medal-66

WWII Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 3,464
• Killed in action: 645
• Wounded in action: 2,814
• Missing in action: 5

Since September 11, 2001, the 38th Infantry Division has provided headquarters and forces for a variety of operational rotations including Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Joint Forge (Bosnia), Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo), Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (Djibouti), Multinational Force and Observers (Egypt), United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) Force Protection (England, Germany, Italy, and Belgium), Operation Noble Eagle (Continental United States) Rotations I through IV, Operation Desert Watch and Operation Desert Spring (Kuwait).

From October 2006 to September 2007, a company from the 38th Infantry Division saw extensive combat in Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraq.  This company and its parent battalion were administratively assigned to the 38th Infantry Division, but operationally assigned to the 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate) just prior to the mobilization and deployment of 2006–07.